The Curde of the Marquis de Sade was a term coined to describe the depraved and violent sexual acts depicted in the writings of the French aristocrat, Donatien Alphonse François, Marquis de Sade. Born in 1740, de Sade gained notoriety for his explicit and sadistic novels and plays, which explored themes of sexual violence, cruelty, and immorality. De Sade's works were considered scandalous and offensive during his lifetime, leading to his imprisonment for most of his adult life. His writings, which include works such as "Justine" and "120 Days of Sodom," depict extreme and graphic acts of sexual violence, often involving non-consenting individuals. The Marquis de Sade was fascinated with the limits of human morality and pushed the boundaries of acceptability in his fictional narratives. The term "The Curde of the Marquis de Sade" refers to the dark and unsettling nature of his writings and the controversial exploration of taboo subjects.
The original manuscript of 120 Days of Sodom, a tiny scroll penned in the bowels of the Bastille in Paris, would embark on a centuries-spanning odyssey across Europe, passing from nineteenth-century banned book collectors to pioneering sex researchers to avant-garde artists before being hidden away from Nazi book burnings. In 2014, the world heralded its return to France when the scroll was purchased for millions by Gérard Lhéritier, the self-made son of a plumber who had used his savvy business skills to upend France’s renowned rare-book market. But the sale opened the door to vendettas by the government, feuds among antiquarian booksellers, manuscript sales derailed by sabotage, a record-breaking lottery jackpot, and allegations of a decade-long billion-euro con, the specifics of which, if true, would make the scroll part of France’s largest-ever Ponzi scheme.
Lhéritier, born in 1948, was hunting a birthday present for his son in 1986 when he came across an antique letter that had been mailed from Paris by hot air balloon during the 1870 siege of the city by the Prussian army. Although there was underlying value to the products he was dealing, his methods of selling shares in properties, revaluing them with a promise to buy them back later at considerable interest, looked suspiciously like a Ponzi scheme.
The term "The Curde of the Marquis de Sade" refers to the dark and unsettling nature of his writings and the controversial exploration of taboo subjects. The word "curde" alludes to the savage and brutal nature of his depictions of sexual acts, which often involved pain, torture, and degradation. The works of de Sade have been highly debated and continue to divide opinions.
The curde of the marquis de sade
The Curse of the Marquis de Sade: A Notorious Scoundrel, a Mythical Manuscript, and the Biggest Scandal in Literary History
Regular price $28.99 Unit price / per Quantity:The captivating, deeply reported true story of how one of the most notorious novels ever written--Marquis de Sade's 120 Days of Sodom--landed at the heart of one of the biggest scams in modern literary history.
"Reading The Curse of the Marquis de Sade, with the Marquis, the sabotage of rare manuscript sales, and a massive Ponzi scheme at its center, felt like a twisty waterslide shooting through a sleazy and bizarre landscape. This book is wild."--Adam McKay, Academy Award-winning filmmaker
Described as both "one of the most important novels ever written" and "the gospel of evil," 120 Days of Sodom was written by the Marquis de Sade, a notorious eighteenth-century aristocrat who waged a campaign of mayhem and debauchery across France, evaded execution, and inspired the word "sadism," which came to mean receiving pleasure from pain. Despite all his crimes, Sade considered this work to be his greatest transgression.
The original manuscript of 120 Days of Sodom, a tiny scroll penned in the bowels of the Bastille in Paris, would embark on a centuries-spanning odyssey across Europe, passing from nineteenth-century banned book collectors to pioneering sex researchers to avant-garde artists before being hidden away from Nazi book burnings. In 2014, the world heralded its return to France when the scroll was purchased for millions by Gérard Lhéritier, the self-made son of a plumber who had used his savvy business skills to upend France's renowned rare-book market. But the sale opened the door to vendettas by the government, feuds among antiquarian booksellers, manuscript sales derailed by sabotage, a record-breaking lottery jackpot, and allegations of a decade-long billion-euro con, the specifics of which, if true, would make the scroll part of France's largest-ever Ponzi scheme.
Told with gripping reporting and flush with deceit and scandal, The Curse of the Marquis de Sade weaves together the sweeping odyssey of 120 Days of Sodom and the spectacular rise and fall of Lhéritier, once the "king of manuscripts" and now known to many as the Bernie Madoff of France. At its center is an urgent question for all those who cherish the written word: As the age of handwriting comes to an end, what do we owe the original texts left behind?
The novel, though only a partial draft, might as well be considered the finished product. Sade necessarily wrote in secrecy. He concealed the scroll in his cell, only to lose it when he was suddenly transferred—“naked as a worm,” as he wrote in a letter—a few days ahead of the revolutionary tumult in July 1789 that culminated in the storming of the Bastille. He never saw 120 Days again, and for its loss, he claimed “every day [to] shed tears of blood.”
Some argue that his writings were an exploration of the human psyche and the inherent darkness within individuals. They argue that he challenged societal norms and conventions, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about human desires and behaviors. Others, however, view de Sade's works as morally repugnant and harmful. They believe that his writings romanticize violence and perpetuate harmful stereotypes about sex and gender. Critics argue that de Sade's fixation on sexual violence normalizes and glamorizes these behaviors. Despite the controversy surrounding de Sade's works, his influence on literature and art cannot be denied. He has inspired numerous artists and writers, such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, who explored similar themes of existentialism and freedom in their works. Today, the term "The Curde of the Marquis de Sade" continues to be used to describe extreme and shocking depictions of sexual violence in literature and other forms of art. It serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy and controversial nature of de Sade's works..
Reviews for "The Curde of the Marquis de Sade: A Dark Journey into the Abyss"
1. John - 2/5 stars
I found "The Curse of the Marquis de Sade" to be quite disappointing. The plot seemed promising at first, with its mysterious and dark undertones, but it failed to deliver. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the characters lacked depth and development. Furthermore, the graphic and explicit content was unnecessary and felt forced, making it difficult to engage with the story on a deeper level. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and would not recommend this book to others.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars
"The Curse of the Marquis de Sade" was a complete waste of my time. The writing was pretentious and self-indulgent, making it difficult to connect with the story or the characters. The constant focus on explicit scenes felt gratuitous and purely for shock value, rather than contributing to the plot or character development. Additionally, the narrative was confusing and disjointed, leaving me feeling frustrated and detached from the story. I would strongly advise anyone considering this book to look elsewhere for a more enjoyable reading experience.
3. Mike - 2/5 stars
I was highly disappointed by "The Curse of the Marquis de Sade." The concept had great potential, but the execution fell flat. The writing style was overly descriptive and verbose, making it hard to maintain interest in the story. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to care about their fates. The explicit content felt forced and added nothing of value to the plot. Overall, I found this book to be a tedious read and would not recommend it to others.
4. Emily - 3/5 stars
While "The Curse of the Marquis de Sade" had an intriguing premise, I felt like it didn't quite live up to its potential. The story had moments of suspense and mystery, but overall, the pacing was slow, slowing down the overall reading experience. The graphic content felt excessive and overshadowed the more interesting aspects of the plot. However, the writing itself was well-crafted, and there were some captivating moments. While not a complete disaster, I can't say I fully enjoyed this book and would cautiously recommend it to readers with a strong stomach for explicit content.